Sociolinguistic Structure and Urban-Suburban Conflict in Shyamal Gangopadhyay’s Short Stories: A Sociolinguistic Analysis

Abstract

In the short stories of Shyamal Gangopadhyay, the use of language is not merely a literary ornament, but is considered a realistic reflection of social reality. In this paper, through close reading of several selected stories-Ghorer Monmejaj, Bombay Road-er Radha, Sidhu Paler Himsagar, Matsyapurana, Basi Purushmanush, and Nodi-the social structure of language, forms of address, code-switching, and the urban-mofussil conflict have been analysed. The discussion shows that the language of the characters is closely related to their social position, educational background, and mental state. The language of urban characters reflects modernity and power through the use of English mixing and short, directive sentences. On the other hand, the language of rural characters shows regionality, simplicity, and an explanatory tendency. Changes in forms of address-such as from ‘apni’ to ‘tumi’ indicate intimacy or distance in relationships, turning language into a social indicator. Additionally, in these stories. language often acts as a field of silent conflict, where class inequality and social distance are expressed through dialogue rather than direct events. The linguistic differences between urban and mofussil settings are not merely regional, but reflect cultural and economic divisions. In the contemporary context, the relevance of these linguistic features has increased further, as the Bengali language is gradually changing under the influence of multilingual factors. As a result, Shyamal Gangopadhyay’s short stories provide an important research foundation for understanding the interrelationship between language, society, and identity, where language is reflected not only as a medium of communication but also as an active force in constructing social reality.